Abstract: Herein is disclosed a method for ink or coating density compensation by means of applying calculated additional ink/coating to the pre-decorated substrate or film, and by additionally, if needed, apply colour-correction to pre-decoration print files to compensate for higher-than-desired ink density colour shifts. The method includes the steps of providing a flat polymer web having a uniform grid pattern of grid markers printed thereon, and then thermally transforming the web to form a three-dimensional target grid. The target grid is then digitized and the change in the spacing of the grid markers is measured and recorded. The recorded transformed spacing for each grid marker is then used to modify the initial graphics file to compensate for ink-density irregularities resulting from the shrinking and stretching deformations of the substrate during thermal transformation.

Abstract: Herein is disclosed a method for ink or coating density compensation by means of applying calculated additional ink/coating to the pre-decorated substrate or film, and by additionally, if needed, apply colour-correction to pre-decoration print files to compensate for higher-than-desired ink density colour shifts. The method includes the steps of providing a flat polymer web having a uniform grid pattern of grid markers printed thereon, and then thermally transforming the web to form a three-dimensional target grid. The target grid is then digitized and the change in the spacing of the grid markers is measured and recorded. The recorded transformed spacing for each grid marker is then used to modify the initial graphics file to compensate for ink-density irregularities resulting from the shrinking and stretching deformations of the substrate during thermal transformation.

Abstract: A method for transforming a two-dimensional graphic image into a two-dimensional distorted image which can then be used to recreate an accurate representation of the two-dimensional graphic image when applied onto a 3D surface. The method includes the steps of producing and identifying a target 3D grid from a plurality of flat polymer webs each having a grid pattern printed thereon, the target 3D grid bearing an accurate representation of the 3D surface. The three-dimensional shape of the target grid is then digitized to form a geometric model of the target grid as a series of data points. Creating a uniform smooth 3D model from the series of data points and then texture mapping the two-dimensional graphic image onto the uniform smooth 3D model to create a texture map. The two-dimensional distorted image is then created from the texture map and the two-dimensional graphic image.

Abstract: A method for transforming a two-dimensional graphic image into a two-dimensional distorted image which can then be used to recreate an accurate representation of the two-dimensional graphic image when applied onto a 3D surface. The method includes the steps of producing and identifying a target 3D grid from a plurality of flat polymer webs each having a grid pattern printed thereon, the target 3D grid bearing an accurate representation of the 3D surface. The three-dimensional shape of the target grid is then digitized to form a geometric model of the target grid as a series of data points. Creating a uniform smooth 3D model from the series of data points and then texture mapping the two-dimensional graphic image onto the uniform smooth 3D model to create a texture map. The two-dimensional distorted image is then created from the texture map and the two-dimensional graphic image.